Sertraline and any other ADs support thread

[hathorinareddress]

Following on from a suggestion by LittleWhiteMice on a thread I have going on here, I am starting a support thread for anyone taking Sertraline or any other AD.

I started taking it yesterday after eventually plucking up the courage to go to the doc on Thursday.

I feel a bit weird but not too bad.

Hey all: checking in v. quickly while Mr. World takes the dog out.

Had quite a busy weekend socialising with the baby. Awkward as I do feel a bit mentally disjointed, but it does use up the time, so that's good. And she seemed to enjoy herself.

Not sure if the Sertraline is working or not, tbh. My symptoms were atypical, possibly- but not like anxiety as I would think of it, or a consistent deep depression. More sudden dips and rages, against a backdrop of feeling crappy and feeling I wasn't coping. Does that even make sense?!

Anyway, I suppose, I am a bit more 'flatline' at the moment, like I veer back somehow from thinking about the things that would normally bring me crashing down. Like a rubber duck: plastic, hollow and buoyant. (Or maybe I'm just bloody tired and feeling a bit surreal!)

Loopy - sorry if I am prying, but why can't you speak to your husband- why do you feel your shutters need to be down with him? Is there anyone who you can confide in in RL?

mumto - good news. Hope you are feeling much better soon, with the right treatment. :)

You're not rubbish- not at all! It's just that you seem somehow angry with him. And so I wondered how you were doing for RL support, because I have no idea how I would manage without it- and I only have one child!

Anyway, have some virtual cake.. hope things ease up for you soon.

To those of you who are here through PND there is a webchat tomorrow. This link gives all the information. It's on at 1pm. If you can, follow along or join in. :)

Had my docs appointment today. He thinks the psychiatrist will change my meds so we decided just to stay on the same one til my appointment next week. He increased the dose, so hopefully that will help.

It was the same doc who came to the house when I was psychotic. He asked how much I could remember of his visit. I can remember it all it was awful. I wouldn't believe that he was a real doctor and ended up calling the police because he wouldn't leave and I was hysterical, convinced he was an alien. I wish that the whole psychosis was a blur, but unfortuantely I can remember it all in clear detail.

Hi there, been lurking for a bit, having started on sertraline 2 weeks ago for pnd. Initially had bad tummy but that passed after a couple of days and I felt so much better, just like myself, and not overwhelmed/anxious/exhausted as I've been over the last while. Last couple of days have been really hard work though. I saw go today for check up and am seeing her again in a week to check if low mood means mess need upping. My baby (DS) is 6 months old and has been sleeping 10-6 since Easter Sunday, but I'm still exhausted and need to nap for an hour or 2 every day if possible. Am giving myself a hard time about that and really relate to comments about pressure to feel better. Hmm.

Right DD needs to get put to bed, so will check in later. Cheers all- this thread is ace.

Sorry- mess, not mess.

Aaagh for auto correct on iPad! meds

Hullo folks... and welcome, Irishexile.

Is anyone feeling substantially better on medication? I seem to be having a bad day, but then I slept badly (restless baby) and we have had some crap news that has messed up our carefully made plans, so perhaps I shouldn't expect any different!

Just feel tired and flat and boring all the time. Found myself thinking along 'suicide as a sensible solution' lines again today. My life just doesn't make any sense to me, I feel like it's such a mess and I am such a pointless, not particularly good or interesting person that there isn't much to be gained by carrying on with it.

I don't mean to be dramatic with this, honestly. It's a rational discussion I was having with myself, not an emotional one, if you see what I mean?

Of course, the problem is that I have a baby to consider, and I wouldn't want her or my partner to suffer... but I am angry at myself now for having had her, because it means I am stuck here, and I struggle to have enough energy and enthusiasm to be a good mother to her.

I don't even know if this is depression or postnatal depression as such, or what difference it makes one way or another. I just feel like I have been, and always will be hobbled by it, no matter how hard I try.

Argh. Sorry for rambling... but there are some things I can't say to my partner, I guess.

Hi Irish and welcome. :) It sounds like you've found the right meds for you and the dose might need adjusting. Don't forget, you're at the beginning of a campaign to make you better. Don't worry about needing a nap during the day.

Mawbroon, it's good you're open with your GP, it really is the best way. I suggest you write down the negative and positive things your meds are causing you to feel instead of just relying on memory. Fingers crossed for your appointment next week.

WorldOfMeh, just read your post. You do realise that suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem don't you? Your partner would be devastated should you go through with it.

The best thing you can do for your DD is to stay alive and get better.

Feeling flat and tired is how XW felt on her ADs, so she got them changed. Maybe you could discuss it with your GP.

I was thinking today that I'm a rubbish mother, and that my 2 deserve better, but then I look at them and realise that they're happy little souls, and (hopefully) are oblivious about how much effort it takes me to get through a day. I'm trying to focus on the fact that even when struggle to get through the day it's not obvious to everyone else, whether that's my kids, GP, friends, inlaws.

Meh- I'm with you on not being sure if this is pnd or 'normal' depression- it feels like it's been building for maybe a year. Maybe it doesn't matter if it's pnd? The main thing is to get better. And feeling like it's hard work is all part of the illness, isn't it? And that means it won't last forever. Hang in there, your LO and DP need you and love you.

Irish i think i'm feeling the same as you. Last week was good. Went home with my mum and felt absolutely fine. Thought it was all sorted. Got back on saturday and feel i'm going downhill again. It's as if i've got used to them already and i'm going backwards. Went to dr who suggested another type, but am loathe to start all over again, so am giving it another week to see if it's just a phase. Feel tired and low and can't be bothered to do much. Woke up this morning feeling dizzy and anxious. Dr said feeling dizzy wasn't a side effect of meds, but it says so on leaflet. Maybe was anxiety.

Worldofmeh. Suicidal thoughts can be a side effect of the meds. It's one you really don't want so please see your gp. All these feelings are temporary as nicholas said.

Had to call dp this morning to come home, was in state with dizziness and felt very anxious. Perked up in the afternoon and did some hoovering (big deal!). Just don't know whether i'm coming or going. Can't make plans in case i'm having an off day. Think my dr is getting bored of me. Think everyone is.

Asked dr about thyroid test. She said it had been checked and was normal. Have to admit i was slightly disappointed! I know it sounds ridiculous to want to have something ohysically wrong with me, but at least then it would explain why i'm like this.

Sorry mumtothreee. Not making light of your condition btw. Hope you get the right treatment now and see an improvement.

Hello all, am trying to make a unicorn birthday cake for DD for tomorrow. Think ambition may be outweighing actual skills, as have only ever baked a Victoria Sponge before.

Deleting how long since you started the ADs ? I called the GP on Monday having been on Sertaline for two weeks and STILL having horrendous anxiety and hes told me to stick with it for another week. Apparently not feeling any effects until 3-4 weeks is quite common. DP has taken compassionate leave for this week as I too still feel very anxious. You're not alone but if you're feeling really low get back to the GP and see what they say.

I have to say that I think I am starting to feel better. I have noticed that my anxious thoughts - usually whizzing round my head like meteors have really calmed down and I feel a bit less jittery. I have got out the house for a walk yesterday and today which really helped and as I was looking up at the clouds scudding across the sky (stay with me) I found myself thinking about how this day was created for me, and that each and every day is the same, all filled with potential for good (or bad) but that each day is new and fresh. To be honest, I had just done some meditation and that had left me feeling very floaty.

I also found what really helped was to type in 'Sertaline works' (or whichever AD you may be o)n into the Search Talk bar at the top of the page. Reading everyones success stories really gave me the momentum to keep going.

Hi all, just checking in. Today seems better. I spent the morning with a very lovely friend, and last night had a long chat w another good friend who has had MH problems so can fully relate. I was thinking about my bad days on Monday and yesterday. Does anyone else feel like their mood is still easily influenced by who they spend time with? I saw a friend on Sunday who is really unsupportive and kind of disinterested (to the degree that I'm reconsidering our friendship) eg she called yesterday to ask me something, and when I said I was having a bad day, I just got "oh well". I think I'm just not well enough to spend time w people who I don't find supportive at the moment. Is that unreasonable?

Busty- I'm beyond impressed at the unicorn cake! And v glad to hear you are having a better day.

deleting - I'm with you on being anxious about going backwards. How are you feeling today? Have you been back to gp? For myself, I'm just trying to trust that it'll be gradual progress, and that the odd step backwards doesn't cancel out the steps forward.

Ha! Irish you should see the cake. Its like an implosion in an icing factory. I've got a sugar rush just looking at it. It is appalling to look at but shes only two and still thinks Im great so thats fine.

I think the anxiety about going backwards is normal. I have felt positive today, buoyed up by the idea that things are on the mend - but I still worry, and am expericing some anxiety about going out the house (its been weeks!) but the worst I can fear is a panic attack now, and that I can deal with. I think. We'll see. I may try going to playgroup with DD and DP tomorrow and see how I fare.

Good luck at the playgroup Busty. Will be thinking of you.

Just seen email exchange between my 2 DSis re mum's 65th in July (yes, I know it's only April.....!)- there's talk of a do of some sort in my home town. Having told one of my sisters that I couldn't think that far ahead, I now feel quite anxious about the expectation I'll go back to Ireland for it, along w DH (who can't stand my DM and half of my family of origin) and 2 DC. I know I may feel stronger then but it's stressing me out. One DSis knows re PND and Ads. The other one told me (when I had PND after DD was born, 3 years ago) that it wasn't depression and to buck up. Cheers sis. So, unsurprisingly, I haven't confided in her. On top of that, I have a strained relationship w DM (who recently announced everyone gets PND, that it's caused by bf and that I should be ok as I've lost my baby weight. FFS on so many levels!). I know I have to do what's right for me and my family and my DM and co can go and hang, but old habits about wanting approval from them die hard. Time for bed I think. Hopefully a good night's sleep will make it all more bearable. Husband home in about an hour (been away w work since Sun pm), so he can feed baby and talk some sense into me.

Night all. Xx

And Busty - of course she thinks you're great, because you are and you're going to so much effort to show her how much you love her!

Can I join in?

I have been on Sertraline now for about a year, prior to that I was on Citalopram but suddenly started to get extremely tired.

All seemed good but all of a sudden my ability to cope has seriously diminished, I can feel myself slipping back and some days are truly awful (this seems to be coupled with my period).

The bad days are starting to increase and where a could manage a few days either side of my period its now stretching out longer.

I'm going to have to go back to the docs arent I - bugger it!